The former Baywatch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff plans to shoot part of his next film, Hour Man Hoff, in Abu Dhabi and is in talks with local partners to help fund it.
The star was in the UAE over the weekend to attend the opening of the new J G restaurant at Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, and give an informal talk to filmmakers at Image Nation Abu Dhabi after judging last year’s Arab Film Studio competition.
"I just finished shooting Killing Hasselhoff, which was financed by Image Nation in Abu Dhabi, and I came back because I'm doing a new film called Hour Man Hoff. It's a spy spoof. I need camels, I need Etihad Airways. We'll be shooting part of it here, we'll be shooting all over the world. It's kind of based on an idea like Our Man Flint, but it's Hour Man Hoff, and I'll go after all the beautiful girls in the world that are spies and I love it. We'll be shooting in April next year over here, because I think I would melt right now."
Hasselhoff said he’d been talking to Image Nation and the Ministry of Culture about partnering on the second film.
"I want to retain control of the movie. Instead of making a movie for US$50 million (Dh183.6m), you can make one for $3m. Killing Hasselhoff we made for $3m, and it works because it's got a good script and great actors involved, and that's what we want to do with this."
Hasselhoff also took time out during the Abu Dhabi leg of his trip to speak to local filmmakers and his advice seems to have paid off for at least one AFS student. “One guy there at Image Nation said to me yesterday: ‘I’m making a film about a young race car driver, will you do a cameo?’ And I said ‘yes.’ That’s how you do it. That’s how you do it. You get in the game. The kid had the guts to ask me and I said: ‘Yes.’”
cnewbould@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
